Tennis-stroke practice target combination

ABSTRACT

A target structure including a substantially horizontal axially elongated target and deflector structure mounted on an upright support shaft, a tennis-ball simulating structure is centrally mounted on the elongated target structure and at each end of the target structure on each opposite side of the tennis-ball structure are located deflector structures. The elongated target structure is variable from the horizontal position and is mounted in a spaced relationship from an upright support for rotation on a shaft which extends laterally downward toward the upright support, the laterally extending shaft being rotatable relative to the upright support shaft. The upright support includes the upright support shaft having slidably mounted thereon a structure having an angular shape such that the support shaft places breaking pressure by virtue of the target structure on the angular shaped structure mounted on the upright support shaft, thereby preventing the angular shaped structure from sliding downward on the upright support shaft.

United States Patent [191 Scainetti Feb. 18, 1975 TENNIS-STROKE PRACTICE TARGET COMBINATION [76] Inventor: Jack P. Scainetti, 198 Euston Rd S.,

Garden City South, NY. 11530 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 412,636

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 381,047, July 20,

1973, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 273/29 A [51] Int. Cl A63b 69/38 [58] Field of Search.. 273/26 R, 26 B, 29 A, 182 R, 273/183 A, 183 B, 183 C, 183 D, 183 E, 191

R, 186 R, 200 R Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerT. Brown [57] ABSTRACT A target structure including a substantially horizontal axially elongated target and deflector structure mounted on an upright support shaft, a tennis-ball simulating structure is centrally mounted on the elongated target structure and at each end of the target structure on each opposite side of the tennis-ball structure are located deflector structures. The elongated target structure is variable from the horizontal position and is mounted in a spaced relationship from an upright support for rotation on a shaft which extends laterally downward toward the upright support, the laterally extending shaft being rotatable relative to the upright support shaft. The upright support includes the upright support shaft having slidably mounted thereon a structure having an angular shape such that the support shaft places breaking pressure by virtue of the target structure on the angular shaped structure mounted on the upright support shaft, thereby preventing the angular shaped structure from sliding downward on the upright support shaft.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TENNIS-STROKE PRACTICE TARGET COMBINATION The present invention relates to a tennis racket stroke-practicing target and tennis racket simulator therefor, and is a continuation-in-part application of the parent application entitled DEVICE FOR TENNIS STROKE TRAINING filed July 20, 1973 and having Ser. No. 38 l ,047 now abandoned, which parent patent application relates to the same type of tennis racket simulator and target therefor for the practicing of tennis strokes, and the disclosure thereof is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present patent application represents an improvement over the parent patent application referred to above. With continued experimentation, it has been discovered that the mental transfer of experience gained during the practice of strokesto performance during the actual playing of the tennis game is impeded by every element and/or factor that contributes to the practice mechanism and structure and use to the extent that there are recognizable deviations from the realplay sensations and experiences. Among such sensations and experiences are the ease experienced by a person when practicing with the simulator, of concentration in concentrating on the fact of the tennis-ball simulator being an actual tennis ball to be hit with a proper stroke and follow-through. Simularly, another factor is the quality of the sound representative of the hitting of the tennis ball, as produced by the noise makers when there is a proper stroke, as well as the timing of the sound relative to the position of the racket during the stroke such that the sound realistically is suggestive of the sound and timing thereof that would result from the actual hitting of a tennis ball, in real play of tennis. Also, for the practice of various strokes, including the lob, it is necessary that the tennis target structure be variable of the angle at which the stroke may be practiced, this not being readily possible by the structure disclosed in the parent applicatioon. Also, the less experienced a tennis player is, or the greater the tennis player need to practice a stroke, the less will be the precision of the stroke and accordingly the greater will be the possibility of the tennis racket simulator hitting the target means itself. Accordingly, a preferred shape of deflector isdesirable which will diminish the possibility of damage to the target structure, and also it is desirable that there be provided improved structure and mechanism thereof of the supports for the varying of elevation of the lateral support of the target means as the lateral support is variably movable upwardly and downwardly on the normally floor-mounted vertically extending shaft, providing for ease of adjustment when desired but avoiding slippage at other times to erroneous or undesired heights, such as slippage downwardly when the racket simulator accidentally strikes the target structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, objects of the present invention include the overcoming of difficulties and disadvantages of the type discussed above and the obtaining of the desired ends, relative thereto.

Another object is to improve the identity of the target means to the practicing person as a symbolic tennis ball.

Another object is to obtain improved timing of the noises and/or combination of noises by the noise makers which represent a properly swung stroke of the tennis racket simulator.

Another object is to effect improved sound resulting from the striking ofthe noise maker(s) by the tennis racket simulator to more closely resemble the sound of a tennis racket striking a tennis ball.

Another object is to reshape the substantially laterally-extending support for the target such that leverage of shape makes use of the weight of the target structure to better clamp the lateral structure against the possi-.

bility of accidental downwardly sliding movement along the vertical support shaft.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the invention are obtained by the invention as defined herein. Broadly the invention includes an improved tennis racket simulator in which there is provided baffle structure extending as flanges radially inwardly from the head frame of the simulator at least from a side of the racket simulator frame and also from at least the handle-end of the head-frame, such that if the racket simulator structure is swung in stroke with the racket handle too close, the baffle extending laterally misses the noise maker, but possibly the base-end of the frame may still hit the noise maker, but with a stroke in which the handle is too distant, there being-a total miss of the noise maker(s) by both radially inwardly extending flanges. If the racket simulator is swung with an alignment such that the laterally or distally extending baffles either or both strike the consecutive noise makers, such is characteristic of hitting the tennis ball on the sweet spot of the racket head. It is preferred to utilize a single tennis ball centrally located between opposite ends of the target means which opposite ends include each a deflector structure preferably of a cord shape, relative to the shape of a circle, with linear base portions of cordshaped deflectors axially aligned with one-another, advantageously presenting identical forehand and backhand targets. If the racket is angled at an incorrect angle on the approach to the target, it lightly glances off of the increasing raised portion broadening from the tapered end, while if the racket strikes behind the target tennis ball, the racket simulator glances off of the rounded increasing height of the following deflector, without substantial possibility of damage to the racket or to the target structure. A particularly desirable feature of the present invention is obtained by the ability to cause the target means to be involved to different angles on the lateral support structure. This may be accomplished by the target means being rotatable on a stationary lateral support or preferably fixed to the lateral support but the lateral support being rotatable manually on its mount as within an angular flange which flange is itself slidably mounted on the upright shaft variably. Typically the angled flange has a through-space through which each of the lateral support and the upright support each extend at opposite ends thereof. The lateral arm includes at its rotation mounting a bearing structure not easily turned accidentally but being tumable by manual manipulation thereof. The shaft-hole in the flange preferably also inating any tendency for sliding on the shaft accidentally. But the primary deterrent against slidingon the shaft accidentally is the improved leverage by the angular flange of the lateral support structure effecting improved leverage such that the weight of the target structure locks the flange against sliding on the shaft.

It has been found that by having the tennis ball simulator centrally located 'between theforward and rearward deflectors, where the deflectors are colored to be least noticeable such as preferably black or transparent material, so as not to attract the eye of the tennis player in practice, the typically white or yellow tennis ball simulator is more easily concentrated on as in actual play. It has also been discovered that a more realistic sound results-from having the lead noise maker mounted in a position spaced substantially forward of the tennis ball such as central to the thickest part of the cord-shaped deflector, as well as there being a similar noise maker for the rearwardly located cord-shaped deflector. Additionally, however, it has been further discovered that wood and/or metallic sound of the noise maker may be made to sound more realistically like the striking of a tennis ball by placing one or more apertures in the face of the wood against which the normally metal or plastic noise maker strip snaps-back whereby the noise is somewhat muted.

Moreover, as skill develops the speed at which the racket may be swung increases until the striking of the two noise makers actually sounds like one further simulating actual play.

FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective side view of the erected structure in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and for improved understanding, illustrates in phantom the position of a practicing tennis player practicing a forehand high side stroke with the tennis racket simulator relative to the target and noise maker as he strokes at the simulated tennis ball.

FIG. 2 illustrates an in-part view of FIG. 1, as taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1, better illustrating mechanism of the target structure and of the tennis racket simulator, the target structure being shown in partial cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional in-part view as taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the structure of FIG. 1, but in an alternate arrangement, for the practicing of typically a serving stroke, with the target inverted relative to the position shown in FIG. 1, in perspective side view.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top elevation view typically of an embodiment such as that of FIG. 1, better illustrating the rotary nature of the shaft on which the tennis ball simulator is mounted for varying the alignment of the deflectors in linear alignment with the intended path of a stroke to be practiced, the rotational directions being further illustrated in the FIG. 1 illustration.

FIG. 6 illustrates a view in in-part cross-section and as an in-part view of FIG. 1 as taken along lines 66 thereof, better illustrating the pole-mounting mechanism and the rotary mechanism for the target shaft.

FIG. 7 is another side perspective view of the same embodiment as FIGS. 1 and 4, except in a disassembled stored state.

FIG. 8 illustrates in in-part view the noise maker improvement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In greater detail, FIG. 1 discloses a target combination 8 and a tennis racket simulator 23. The target combination includes a variety of parts such as the support arm 10 angularly extending from the support flange 11 having through hole 12 with anti-slip typically leather strip 13 threaded therethrough in snug relationship with the shaft 27 composed of several jointed segments as 27c and 27d with male joint projections 27a and femal joint receptacles 27b, with the shaft 27 mounted in the base element 27e having typical side supports 28a, 28b, and 280. Through the support arm 10 is a through hole 150 having threaded rotatably therethrough rod 19 having resilient typically rubber element 15a in washer form mounted around the rod 19 on the underside face of the support arm 15 and also next thereto a typically metal or plastic washer 15b mounted on rod 19, and locking screw(s) l6, and on the opposite upper face (outer face) there being merely a metal or plastic washer 15b and locking screw(s) 16'. The rubber washer 15a serves to reduce grinding or wearing pressure during the forced (manual) rotution of the rod 19 by virtue of the resiliency of the washer 15a. The locking screw(s) 16 are locked into threaded aperture(s) 17. A tennis ball simulator is mounted as element 18 mounted on the rod 19 and having extending in opposite directions at right angles to rod 19 the extension rods 20a and 20b having mounted on the end of each a deflector 21a and 21b respectively of the cord-shape illustrated (cord as related to a portion of a circle), such that irrespective as to which direction either is hit by the racket similator accidentally during a practice stroke, the racket similator will glance off of the angular face which is located on each side of the noise makers 22a and 22b.

In each of the base extensions 28a, 28b, and 28c is a receptacle 32a, 32b, and 320 respectively, for receipt of male members 29a, 29b, and 29c respectively as illustrated in the stored state in FIG. 7, but in FIG. I mounted in holes such as 360; feet 31a, 31b, and 31c respectively are locked onto the respective male members 29a, 29b, and 290 by pins 31a, 31b, and 310 respectively. Hollow male members 27a. mounted (for storage) on pins 33 and 34 respectively, and an apertured handle of the racket similator mounts on the pin 35. Securing pin 36 typically locks together parts of base member 27e.

The tennis racket similator 23 includes a handle shaft 230 (together with its handle) and extended frame element 23b and shorter frame element 230. From the base of the frame elements 23b and 23c is a base rigid or semi-rigid deflector element 24b typically of wood or tough plastic or rigid leather, and extending distally axially aligned with the shaft 23a radially into the framed racket space; and mounted extending radially inwardly from a lateral position of the long frame element 23b is a comparable deflector element 24a, with the deflectors being mounted as illustrated for FIG. 2, by typically pins 25a preferably of a removable nature in the event of need to replace one or more deflector. The respective deflectors 24b and 240 as identified above, serve each to be positioned to strike the noise makers 22a and 22b as the racket passes in the course of a practice stroke at the tennis ball simulator. Typically the continuous rod (having rod extensions 20a and 20b) is locked onto rod 19 by pin 26.

In FIG. 6, the leather strip 13 is locked into a firm state by typically lock screws 37.

As to the remaining Figures, the parts are labeled and/or correspond to those already identified above for FIGS. 1 through 3, and do not require further description. It should be noted, however, that the various rotary positions of the deflectors are illustrated in FIG. 5 dependent upon manual rotation of the rod 19 in the hole 150 of FIG. 6 in directions illustrated in FIG. 1. Also, with reference to the shape of the rod 19 support arm 15 relative to its angularly-extending flange 11, it is the extended arm 15 and the laterally-extending rod 19 therefrom that results in a large degree of leverage to cause the walls of the hole 12 to press with a large degree of pressure against the shaft 27; accordingly, the anti-slip strip 13 is mounted against the walls of hole 12 and is pressed firmly against the shaft 27, thereby obviating any tendency for the flange 11 to slip downwardly or to accidentally rotate around the shaft 27.

With regard to the tennis racket simulator, the illustrated design has been found to obviate striking of the noise makers when a stroke is imperfect, but normally will strike the noise makers in a proper stroke follow through, striking them consecutively. One or the other or both of the deflector elements 24a and 24b will strike both noise makers 22a and 22b in a proper tennis stroke of the racket simulator.

Although particular preferred compositions have been suggested, it is understood that equivalent other materials consistent with the above-stated requirements may be employed as substituted equivalents.

By the present invention as disclosed above, particular special benefits include the shmetrical appearance of and availability of the target and deflectors for the tennis-player practicing person on each and both of forehand and backhand strokes with full and complete follow-through. Also it is possible to practice standard forehand and backhand strokes, as well as lobs, and as well as top spin and under-spin strokes on both forehand and backhand sides, and for right-handed and/or left-handed persons, and on both forehand and backhand practice strokes there being the two noises simulating the stroke-striking of the ball, the improved muted sounds (one at each end giving a double muted-sound) resulting from the FIG. 8 hole-structure space 38 against which the flat face of the resilient strip 22a (and also the opposite target end strip) slaps as it springs back, sounding more and more like the actual striking of the ball as the speed of the stroke increases with practice. The above-noted variety of strokes are made possible by the fact that the lateral support shaft structure 19 can be revolved manually by the applica tion of appropriate turning force.

Similarly other conventional materials, modifications, and the like as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill may be employed within the scope of the invention as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art.

I claim:

1. A tennis-stroke practice target device comprising in combination: A base and an elongated upright guide post supported by said base providing support intermediate its ends for a support arm, said support arm being elongated and having one end extending outward from said upright guide post; an elongated target mounted on the distal end of said support arm remote from said upright guide post, said target providing guidance in the follow through of a tennis practice stroke and being suspended with its elongated axis extending substantially perpendicular to said upright guide post, each opposite end of said target being provided with an elongated member having tapered ends with enlarged crosssection, becoming larger progressively from each end towards an intermediate portion of said elongated member; said elongated member also having mounted thereon a target structure of substantially spherical shape resembling a tennis ball and mounted intermedi ately between said elongated members and being integral with said elongated target.

2. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 1 in which each elongated member of said target is shaped as a chord-arc-shaped area ofa circle with a lineally extending chord-base thereof, each being substantially aligned with the lineally extending chord-base of the chord-arc-shaped area of the other.

3. The tennis-stroke practice training device of claim 2 including rotatable structure whereby said target ,is rotatably mounted on said support arm.

4. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 3 in which said rotatable structure includes an elongated shaft having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said distal end of said support arm to rotate about its longitudinal axis, said shaft also having said elongated target mounted substantially perpendicular on its other end.

5. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 4 in which said support arm is angularly shaped, a first portion of said arm being slidably mounted substan tially perpendicular to said upright guide post to allow said target to be positioned in a tennis practice serve position and tennis practice forehand and backhand positions, and a second portion at the distal end of said arm being at an inclined position relative to said upright guide post, said shaft being mounted substantially perpendicular to said second portion of said arm.

6. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 5 wherein said upright guide post is of circular crosssection.

7. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 6 wherein said flrst portion of said arm is provided with an aperture for slidably receiving said upright guide post, said aperture having friction means mounted therein for frictionally holding said arm in various adjustable positions along said upright guide post.

8. The tennis-stroke practice target of claim 7 including a racket structure comprising a tennis racket head frame structure having a plurality of flat-faced strips extending radially inwardly thereof, a separate one of said strips extending from each of one side location on the frame structure; a handle portion located on said frame structure; the frame structure having one side extending about half the length of the racket head frame from said handle and an opposite side extending from said handle to and continuing as at least a part of a curved end portion of said frame structure thereby defininga gap space in the racket frame structure such that said racket structure may be stroke-swing past said support arm while said target is passed substantially centrally through said racket head frame structure.

9. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 8 in which said target includes a semi-rigid resilient strip provided on each elongated tapered member and a flat surface for use as a racket stroke-aligning means, said strip being mounted on and extending substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and being substantially transverse to the elongated axis of said target, said elongated members including mounting structure providing a flat surface having at least one aperture therein facing a flat surface of said strip such that when said strip is forcibly biased away from and permitted to snap-back againstsaid apertured surface the sound of said flat face striking the mounting structure is muted.

10. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 1 in which said target includes a semi-rigid resilient strip provided on each elongated member and defining a flat surface for use as a racket stroke-aligning and striking means, said strip being mounted on and extending substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and being substantially transverse to the elongated axis of said target, said elongated member including mounting structure providing a flat surface having at least one aperture therein facing a flat surface of said strip such that when said strip is forcibly biased away from and permitted to snap-back against said apertured surface the sound of said face striking the mounting structure is muted.

1 l. A tennis-stroke practice target device comprising in combination an upright tennis practice target and a tennis racket structure; said tennis racket structure comprising a tennis racket head frame structure having flat-faced strips extending radially inwardly therefrom and a handle portion located thereon, said frame structure having one side extending substantially half the length around said racket head frame from said handle and an opposite side extending from said handle to and continuing as at least a part of a curved end structure thereby defining a gap space in the racket frame structure, such that said racket head frame structure may be stroke-swing past said target without striking said target but allowing said flat faced strips to strike said target if a tennis practice stroke is not properly aligned when said target is passed substantially centrally of said racket'head frame structure during said tennis practice stroke. 

1. A tennis-stroke practice target device comprising in combination: A base and an elongated upright guide post supported by said base providing support intermediate its ends for a support arm, said support arm being elongated and having one end extending outward from said upright guide post; an elongated target mounted on the distal end of said support arm remote from said upright guide post, said target providing guidance in the follow through of a tennis practice stroke and being suspended with its elongated axis extending substantially perpendicular to said upright guide post, each opposite end of said target being provided with an elongated member having tapered ends with enlarged cross-section, becoming larger progressively from each end towards an intermediate portion of said elongated member; said elongated member also having mounted thereon a target structure of substantially spherical shape resembling a tennis ball and mounted intermediately between said elongated members and being integral with said elongated target.
 2. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 1 in which each elongated member of said target is shaped as a chord-arc-shaped area of a circle with a lineally extending chord-base thereof, each being substantially aligned with the lineally extending chord-base of the chord-arc-shaped area of the other.
 3. The tennis-stroke practice training device of claim 2 including rotatable structure wherebY said target is rotatably mounted on said support arm.
 4. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 3 in which said rotatable structure includes an elongated shaft having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said distal end of said support arm to rotate about its longitudinal axis, said shaft also having said elongated target mounted substantially perpendicular on its other end.
 5. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 4 in which said support arm is angularly shaped, a first portion of said arm being slidably mounted substantially perpendicular to said upright guide post to allow said target to be positioned in a tennis practice serve position and tennis practice forehand and backhand positions, and a second portion at the distal end of said arm being at an inclined position relative to said upright guide post, said shaft being mounted substantially perpendicular to said second portion of said arm.
 6. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 5 wherein said upright guide post is of circular cross-section.
 7. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 6 wherein said first portion of said arm is provided with an aperture for slidably receiving said upright guide post, said aperture having friction means mounted therein for frictionally holding said arm in various adjustable positions along said upright guide post.
 8. The tennis-stroke practice target of claim 7 including a racket structure comprising a tennis racket head frame structure having a plurality of flat-faced strips extending radially inwardly thereof, a separate one of said strips extending from each of one side location on the frame structure; a handle portion located on said frame structure; the frame structure having one side extending about half the length of the racket head frame from said handle and an opposite side extending from said handle to and continuing as at least a part of a curved end portion of said frame structure thereby defining a gap space in the racket frame structure such that said racket structure may be stroke-swing past said support arm while said target is passed substantially centrally through said racket head frame structure.
 9. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 8 in which said target includes a semi-rigid resilient strip provided on each elongated tapered member and a flat surface for use as a racket stroke-aligning means, said strip being mounted on and extending substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and being substantially transverse to the elongated axis of said target, said elongated members including mounting structure providing a flat surface having at least one aperture therein facing a flat surface of said strip such that when said strip is forcibly biased away from and permitted to snap-back against said apertured surface the sound of said flat face striking the mounting structure is muted.
 10. The tennis-stroke practice target device of claim 1 in which said target includes a semi-rigid resilient strip provided on each elongated member and defining a flat surface for use as a racket stroke-aligning and striking means, said strip being mounted on and extending substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and being substantially transverse to the elongated axis of said target, said elongated member including mounting structure providing a flat surface having at least one aperture therein facing a flat surface of said strip such that when said strip is forcibly biased away from and permitted to snap-back against said apertured surface the sound of said face striking the mounting structure is muted.
 11. A tennis-stroke practice target device comprising in combination an upright tennis practice target and a tennis racket structure; said tennis racket structure comprising a tennis racket head frame structure having flat-faced strips extending radially inwardly therefrom and a handle portion located thereon, said frame structure having one side extending substantially half the length arOund said racket head frame from said handle and an opposite side extending from said handle to and continuing as at least a part of a curved end structure thereby defining a gap space in the racket frame structure, such that said racket head frame structure may be stroke-swing past said target without striking said target but allowing said flat faced strips to strike said target if a tennis practice stroke is not properly aligned when said target is passed substantially centrally of said racket head frame structure during said tennis practice stroke. 